Self-induced light polarization rotation in azobenzene-containing polymers

Authors
Nikolova, L Nedelchev, L Todorov, T Petrova, T Tomova, N Dragostinova, V Ramanujam, PS Hvilsted, S
Citation
L. Nikolova et al., Self-induced light polarization rotation in azobenzene-containing polymers, APPL PHYS L, 77(5), 2000, pp. 657-659
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science
Journal title
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
ISSN journal
00036951 → ACNP
Volume
77
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
657 - 659
Database
ISI
SICI code
0003-6951(20000731)77:5<657:SLPRIA>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
We report here a light-induced phenomenon--a self-induced rotation of the a zimuth of elliptically polarized light passing through photobirefringent az opolymers. The experiments are carried out with films of amorphous and liqu id-crystalline polymers. It has been shown that the induced rotation angle depends on the ellipticity of the input light. A theoretical analysis of th e phenomenon has been done and it has been shown that light induces chiral structure in the polymer films. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0 003-6951(00)02731-5].